IP Library Granted Patent US 8,686,924
Granted Patent B2
US 8,686,924 · App. 13/769,784 · Granted Apr 1, 2014

Determining whether a wearable device is in use

Inventors: Max Braun (San Francisco, CA); Ryan Geiss (San Jose, CA); Harvey Ho (Mountain View, CA); Thad Eugene Starner (Mountain View, CA); Gabriel Taubman (Brooklyn, NY)
Assignee: Google Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,686,924
App. No.
13/769,784
Granted
Apr 1, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for selecting an action associated with a power state transition of a head-mounted display (HMD) in the form of eyeglasses are disclosed. A signal may be received from a sensor on a nose bridge of the eyeglasses indicating if the HMD is in use. Based on the received signal, a first power state for the HMD may be determined. Responsive to the determined first power state, an action associated with a power state transition of the HMD from an existing power state to the first power state may be selected. The action may be selected from among a plurality of actions associated with a plurality of state transitions. Also, the action may be a sequence of functions performed by the HMD including modifying an operating state of a primary processing component of the HMD and a detector of the HMD configured to image an environment.

Claims (60)

1. A wearable computing device, comprising:

an input device configured to receive input for interacting with a display coupled to the wearable computing device;

an infrared proximity sensor configured to provide an output that is indicative of whether the wearable computing device is being worn;

a computing system; and

instructions stored in a memory of the computing system and executable by at least one processor of the computing system to perform functions comprising:

receiving an output from the infrared proximity sensor,

based on the received output, determining a first power state for the computing system,

determining that the first power state is a different power state than an existing power state of the computing system, and

in response to determining that the first power state is a different power state than the existing power state, modifying an operating state of the computing system, wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises opening or closing an application of the computing system.

2. The wearable computing device of claim 1 :

wherein the wearable computing device comprises an eyewear device, and

wherein the infrared proximity sensor is coupled to an inner side of the eyewear device.

3. The wearable computing device of claim 2 :

wherein the eyewear device comprises a modular device coupled to an extending side-arm of a head-mounted structure, the modular device having a frame and a single lens element, and

wherein the infrared proximity sensor is positioned on an inner side of the frame.

4. The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the first power state is a power-on state.

5. The wearable computing device of claim 1 :

wherein the first power state comprises a power-save state, and

wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises providing instructions to the computing system to enter a sleep-mode.

6. The wearable computing device of claim 1 :

wherein the first power-state comprises a power-off state, and

wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises providing instructions to the computing system to power off.

7. The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein determining the first power state for the computing system comprises:

comparing the received output to a threshold, and

determining the first power state based on the comparison.

8. The wearable computing device of claim 1 , wherein the infrared proximity sensor is configured to emit infrared radiation and provide the output based on an intensity of infrared radiation scattered back to the infrared proximity sensor.

9. A method comprising:

receiving an output from an infrared proximity sensor of a wearable computing device, wherein the infrared proximity sensor is coupled to an inner side of the wearable computing device, and wherein the output is indicative of whether the wearable computing device is being worn;

based on the received output, determining a first power state for a computing system of the wearable computing device;

determining that the first power state is a different power state than an existing power state of the computing system; and

in response to determining that the first power state is a different power state than the existing power state, modifying an operating state of the computing system of the wearable computing device, wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises opening or closing an application of the computing system.

10. The method of claim 9 :

wherein the wearable computing device comprises an eyewear device, and

wherein the infrared proximity sensor is coupled to an inner side of the eyewear device.

11. The method of claim 10 :

wherein the eyewear device comprises a modular device coupled to an extending side-arm of a head-mounted structure, the modular device having a frame and a single lens element, and

wherein the infrared proximity sensor is positioned on an inner side of the frame.

12. The method of claim 9 :

wherein the first power state is a power-on state, and

wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises providing instructions to a display system to provide a display on a lens element of the wearable computing device.

13. The method of claim 9 :

wherein the first power state comprises a power-save state, and

wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises providing instructions to the computing system to enter a sleep-mode.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform functions comprising:

receiving an output from an infrared proximity sensor of a wearable computing device, wherein the infrared proximity sensor is coupled to an inner side of the wearable computing device, and wherein the output is indicative of whether the wearable computing device is being worn;

based on the received output, determining a first power state for the computing system;

determining that the first power state is a different power state than an existing power state of the computing system; and

in response to determining that the first power state is a different power state than the existing power state, modifying an operating state of the computing system, wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises opening or closing an application of the computing system.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 :

wherein the wearable computing device comprises an eyewear device, and

wherein the infrared proximity sensor is coupled to an inner side of the eyewear device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 :

wherein the eyewear device comprises a modular device coupled to an extending side-arm of a head-mounted structure, the modular device having a frame and a single lens element, and

wherein the infrared proximity sensor is positioned on an inner side of the frame.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 :

wherein the first power state is a power-on state, and

wherein the modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises providing instructions to a display system to provide a display on a lens element of the wearable computing device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 :

wherein the first power state comprises a power-save state, and

wherein modifying the operating state of the computing system comprises providing instructions to the computing system to enter a sleep-mode.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: GOOGLE LLC
Reel/Frame 044101/0299 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2013
From: BRAUN, MAX; GEISS, RYAN; HO, HARVEY; STARNER, THAD EUGENE; TAUBMAN, GABRIEL
To: GOOGLE INC.
Reel/Frame 029825/0573 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 13453456 · Apr 23, 2012
Continuation 13186639 · Jul 20, 2011
Related Publication 20130154906A1 · Jun 20, 2013